This project addresses the 116th John Stewardson Fellowship in Architecture brief for 2017, for which it was a finalist as well as being the only Honorable Mention.
The prompt was to design an observatory atop Mt. Lemmon to replace an existing but aging facility. Beyond the core of the observatory, living spaces for researchers and educational spaces were also required to continue and expand upon the existing functions.
Design intents are as follows:
"To create an experiential connection between the monumentality of the site and the weightlessness of space, the design explores a play between the monolithic and slight. Tucson's USAF Boneyard inspires the battleship-esque observation dome. Within the turret, a narrative is set that guides the users from the starkness of the mountains, reflected through the size and opacity of the exterior of the observation dome, to the passage towards the stars as the skies begin to be revealed once within. The journey culminates at the eyepiece of the 32" telescope, where the stars above are reflected to create the illlusion that users are within the center of the universe.
Small self-sufficient modules, focusing particularly on solar energy and water collection, allow for organic growth or reduction while leaving little impact on the site. Weathering steel and glazing form the core of the materiality to convey the ruggedness and grounded nature of the site while taking advantage of the views the elevation imparts."
